Vinocur v. Edge Clothing, Inc.

Citizen enforcer Laurence Vinocur's allegations against settling party Edge Clothing, Inc. ("Edge") were resolved on February 20, 2013, when the parties entered into a Settlement Agreement.  In this matter, Vinocur alleged that Edge sold belts containing the phthalate chemical di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate ("DEHP") in the State of California without providing the requisite health hazard warnings.

As part of the settlement, Edge agreed not to sell any belts in California after February 26, 2013, unless the belts contain no more than 1,000 parts per million of DEHP when analyzed using state or federally approved testing methodologies. Should Edge provide written certification that all belts sold in California after May 1, 2013 qualify as reformulated, Vinocur agreed to waive a portion of the civil fine that would otherwise be applied.

The Settlement Agreement requires settlement payments of $39,250, divided therein between civil penalties, 75% of which are paid to California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, and compensation to whistleblower Vinocur and his counsel for their successful enforcement of this matter in the public interest.